Roadway vacuum sweeper with slurry disposal

ABSTRACT

A fluid containing insulated reservoir or tank is mounted on a vehicle chassis having an engine thereon, a hydraulic pressure means and a control cab. A roadway cleaning apparatus, comprising a forwardly open horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical screw conveyor surrounding housing, is pivotally mounted transversely of the forward end portion of the vehicle chassis for vertical pivoting movement about a horizontal axis. A discharge tube connects the central portion of the conveyor housing to the tank. Vacuum means cooperates with the screw conveyor and discharges dust, dirt and the like into the tank. Heat transfer means supported by the chassis extends into the tank for heating the contents to form a slurry. An agitator within the tank enhances the slurry forming action.

United States Patent [191 Krickovich Jan. 28, 1975 ROADWAY VACUUMSWEEPER WITH SLURRY DISPOSAL [22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.1402,630

Related U.S. Application Data [60] Division of Ser. No. 23l,292, March2, I972. Pat. No. 3,766,586, which is a continuation-impart of Ser. Nos70,335, Sept. 8, I970, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part ofSer. No. 118,228, Feb. 24, 1971, abandoned Primary E.\'aminerHarvey C.Hornsby Assistant ExuminerC. K. Moore [57] ABSTRACT A fluid containinginsulated reservoir or tank is mounted on a vehicle chassis having anengine thereon, a hydraulic pressure means and a control cab. A roadwaycleaning apparatus, comprising a forwardly open horizontally disposedsubstantially cylindrical screw conveyor surrounding housing, ispivotally mounted transversely of the forward end portion of the vehiclechassis for vertical pivoting movement about a horizontal axis. Adischarge tube connects the central portion of the conveyor housing tothe tank. Vacuum means cooperates with the screw conveyor and dischargesdust, dirt and the like into the tank. Heat transfer means supported bythe chassis extends into the tank for heating the contents to form aslurry. An agitator within the tank enhances the slurry forming action.

3 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures JIO ROADWAY VACUUM SWEEPER WITH SLURRYDISPOSAL CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is adivision of an application filed by me in the United States PatentOffice on Mar. 2, 1972, Ser. No. 231,292, now US. Pat. No. 3,766,586 forSnow Remover and Vacuum Sweeper With Slurry Disposal, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 70,335, Sept. 8, 1970, and nowabandoned, and also a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 118,228, Feb. 24,1971, also now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention.

The present invention relates to surface cleaners and more particularlyto a sweeper and vacuum cleaner for streets, roadways, walks, runways,or the like.

It is desirable from an environmental viewpoint to provide an apparatusfor cleaning up and disposing of dust, dirt, leaves or papers and otheritems commonly known as trash by immersion and mixing with water to forma disposable slurry.

Conventional street sweepers have a relatively small storage capacityand, therefore, require the service of other apparatus acting as pickupand disposal units.

This invention simplifiesthe operations of surface cleaning by providinga single mobile machine which picks up the above identified trash in arelatively large capacity insulated tank which is periodically drainedof its contained slurry, at a suitable disposal site, thus eliminatingthe use of conventional street sweeper supporting apparatus as well assaving time and wear of such equipment.

2. Description 'of the prior art.

My patent, US. Pat. No. 3,464,128, discloses a snow remover having someof the structure disclosed by this invention. US. Pat. No. 2,833,116discloses a sweeping apparatus principally featuring an improved fluidpower distributing system. U.S. Pat. No. 3,321,851 discloses a rotarybroom surface sweeper featuring a means for lubricating the turbinecasing means employed for preventing buildup of material being swept upon the inner wall surfaces.

The principal distinction of this invention over the above patents beingthe replaceable brush means connected with conveyor blades in acting asa surface cleaner and a vacuum means in combination therewith whereby aslurry of picked-up materials is formed in a receiving reservoir.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An insulated relatively large capacity tank issupported by a truck chassis rearwardly of an engine and control cab. Aroadway cleaning apparatus, including longitudinally aligned oppositelydisposed screw conveyors connected with impeller blades and supported bya cylindrical housing, is transversely mounted across the lower frontend portion of the truck chassis for ver-' tical pivoting movementtoward and away from the surface of the earth. The housing is providedwith a flexible discharge tube extending upwardly and rearwardly towardthe tank top. The impeller blades and the blades of the screw conveyorsare provided with replaceable brush segments for cleaning roadwaysurfaces. A vacuum pump, mounted on the chassis, is connected byflexible tubing with the tank and suction nozzles mounted rearwardly ofthe sweeping brush containing housing. A heat transfer means supportedby the truck chassis includes an antifreeze fluid containing coilextending into the tank in spaced relation with respect to its innerwall surface. Agitator blades within the tank BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view, to a larger scale, takensubstantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, takensubstantially along the line 55 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, to a largerscale, taken substantially along the line 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner ofconnecting brushes to the respective end portions of the thrower blades;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the conveyor housingsupported brush shield;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating themanner of connecting brushes to the conveyor;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, to a largerscale, taken substantially along the line 10-10 of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, to an enlargedscale, taken substantially along the line 1lll of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Like characters of referencedesignate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which theyoccur.

In the drawings:

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, the reference numeral 10indicates a substantially conventional truck chassis having an engine12, a hydraulic pump and other conventional controls, not shown, and acontrol cab 14, mounted on and supported by the forward end portion oflongitudinally extending vehicle frame members 16, in turn supported bywheels 18. Conveyor means 20 is mounted on the forward end of thechassis and connected with tank means 22, mounted on the chassisrearwardly of the cab, by tube means 24. The conveyor means 20 comprisesa substantially cylindrical horizontal housing 26 having end closingmembers 28 and 30 (FIG. 3) and having a portion of its forwardly anddownward arcuate wall removed to form a trash admitting opening 32. Ashaft 34 extends horizontally between and beyond the housing ends 28 and30 and is journalled at its respective end portions by the respectiveend portion of a pair of arms 36. The other end portions of the arms 36are respectively pivotally connected to the respective outwardlydisposed end portion of a pair of horizontally aligned support shafts 38and transversely supported by the chassis so that the housing 26 may bevertically pivoted about the horizontal axis of the shafts 38 and 40 aspresently explained.

A pair of hydraulic cylinders 42 are connected, respectively, to a pairof parallel braces 44 which project forwardly and upwardly in rearwardspaced relation with respect to the housing 26. The piston end of thecylinders 42 are respectively pivotally connected to a pair ofspaced-apart ears 46 cooperatively secured to the upper surfaces of thehousing 26 for raising and lowering the housing. Valve and tubing means,not shown, connected with the hydraulic system of the truck and thecylinders 42, are actuated by the operator in the control cab 14 foroperating the cylinders 42 and raising and lowering the conveyor means20. Oppositely acting screw conveyors 48, secured to the shaft 34, areeach connected with impeller blades 50 radially connected to the shaft34 medially the length of the housing.

The tube means 24 comprises a lower tubular section 52 connected withthe housing 26 around an opening 54 (FIG. 6) therein. The upwardlydirected end portion of the lower tube section 52 is provided with anannular flange cooperatively joined with the lower flanged end of aninclined intermediate flexible tube 55 having a similar flange at itsupper end joined with the flanged end of a flexible tubing ell 56 inturn connected with an elbow-like adaptor 58 secured to andcommunicating with the interior of the tank means 22.

A hydraulic motor 60 is supported by one of the arms 36 and connectedwith the conveyor shaft 34 for driving the conveyors 48.

The tank means 22 includes a substantially rectangular tank 62 having abottom wall characterized by a rearward horizontal surface 64 mergingwith the remainder of the bottom surface which is inclined downwardly orslopes toward the central left side of the vehicle and tank means, asviewed from the front, forming a sump 66 (FIG. 4). The bottom wall isjoined to a top wall 68 by opposing side walls 70 and forward andrearward end walls 72 and 74, respectively. The tank 62 is surrounded,in spaced relation, by a plurality of bottom, top, side and end wallpanels 76 (FIGS. 1 and 2) secured to stud-like supports, not shown,extending across the respective bottom, top, side and end walls of thetank 62 to form a double walled tank having a space between the outerlimits of the tank 62 and inner wall surfaces of the wall panels 76which is preferably filled with heat and cold insulating material 78. Adrain pipe or hose 80 extends through the rear wall 74 of the tank andis connected with a conventional drain valve 82, which may be a ballvalve or wedge disk valve, for draining fluid out of the tank down tothe level of the horizontal bottom portion 64. The drain opening of thevalve 82, preferably positioned slightly above the inner surface of thetank bottom, insures that a quantity of water remains in the tank. Thevalve 82 may be manually opened by a control wheel 84 disposedrearwardly of the tank means 22 and connected with the valve 82 byvertical control rods 86 and 88 operated through right angle gears 90and 92 mounted on the top of the tank means by a shaft 94.Alternatively, a conventional air valve, not shown, controlled from thecab 14, may be connected with the valve control shaft 88 for opening andclosing the valve 82. The sump 66 has a drain valve similarly connectedwith a drain tube section but terminating inwardly of the tank meansouter wall 70 to prevent freezing. Access to the control of thesumpvalve is gained through an access door 96 (FIG. I) formed in anoverlying outer wall panel of the tank means. A vent opening 98 (FIG.11) is formed in the top of the tank and a manhole similarly formed inthe top of the tank, is closed by a lid or cover 100.

A heater H, mounted on the truck chassis forwardly of the tank means 22,is connected with piping I02 which extends into the tank 62 along itswalls, in spaced relation with respect to its inner wall surface, in ahelical fashion for approximately one-half the vertical height of thetank. The other end portion 104 of the piping extends through theforward wall 72 of the tank and is connected with the heater. The pipingis filled with a liquid, not shown, preferably containing an antifreezesolution. The purpose of the heater is to thermally circulate theliquid, however, the heater may be provided with a hydraulic motordriven pump P (FIG. 4), for increasing the liquid flow rate through thepiping. The piping is supported in its helically wound fashion bystandards 106 connected with the inner surface of the opposing walls 70of the tank and including U- shaped bolts 108 secured to the standardsand loosely surrounding a peripheral portion of successive runs of thepiping. The piping is preferably provided with unions, not shown, forease in assembly and for servic ing or replacing the piping.

Agitator means 110 is mounted within the tank 62 for mixing fluid 112(FIG. 4) with other material, now shown, deposited in the tank. Theagitator means comprises four vertical radially spaced blades 114 eachtwisted and extending from near the tank bottom to near the tank top andare secured by arms I16 to a shaft 118 in turn secured to the top andbottom wall of the tank by bearings 120. The upper end of the shaft 118projects through the top wall of the tank and is drivably connected to ahydraulic motor 122 operated by the truck hydraulic system for rotatingthe agitator means. The agitator means 110 is shown medially the ends ofthe tank and may be disposed adjacent one of the tank side walls 70, ifdesired.

FIG. 9 illustrates the manner of connecting brushes to the conveyormeans 20 to achieve a surface brushing or sweeping action. An importantfeature of the blades 50 and conveyors 48 is that their outwardlydisposed edges are arcuately curved toward the direction of rotation.

A plurality of spaced-apart slots 124 are formed adjacent the free edgesurface of the flange 126 forming the screw conveyor. Only one conveyorflange I26 is shown in FIG. 9 for clarity. A plurality of brush segments128, each having a base portion I30 are provided with a pair of boltsand nuts 132 for respectively entering pairs of the slots 124. The bolts132 secure the respective brush segment 128 to the conveyor flange 126,in end to end abutted relation with respect to other adjacent brushsegments, so that the arcuately curved brush fibers 134 project beyondthe cylindrical surface described by the conveyor flange 126 wherein theelongated slots 124 permit adjustment of the respective brush segment tocompensate for wear of the fibers.

FIG. 7 illustrates a fragment of one of the thrower blades 50 whereinone or more brush segments I39 are secured to the ends of the throwerblades by bolts, or

the like, in a substantially identical manner to that disclosed for theconveyor flanges 126. It should be noted, however, that the brushsegments 136 are secured to the surface of the respective thrower blade50 opposite its material contacting surface with the bristles or fibersof the brush segments turned to extend beyond the end of the throwerblade 50 and curved arcuately toward the plane of the blade opposite thebrush segment connected surface, as at 138, so that the thrower blades50 will sweep that portion of the roadway surface disposed betweenadjacent ends of the conveyors within the housing 26.

A brush shield 140 (FIG. 8) is supported by the inner surface of theconveyor housing 26 for adjusting the area ofthe housing opening 32according to the general size or bulk of the debris being swept orpicked up during a roadway sweeping action. The shield 140 comprises anelongated plate coextensive with the inner surface of the housing 26 andsubstantially semicircular in transverse section. Flanges 142, at therespective ends of the shield, receive bolts, not shown, for connectingthe shield to the housing plates 28 and 30 and disposing its forwardedge 144 downwardly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. The shield is providedwith a slot 146 medially its ends for accommodating the discharge tube52.

During the sweeping action the brush segments 128 attached to theconveyors 48 and thrower blades 50 contact the street or roadway surface148. Obviously the housing 26 is vertically adjusted with respect to thesurface to be swept by actuating the hydraulic cylinders 42 so that thebrush fibers 134 will contact the surface.

As shown in FIGS.2, 3 and 5, the span of the sweeping action may beincreased by horizontally connecting a pair of sweep conveyors 150 and152 to the respective ends of the conveyor means 20 in substantialalignment with the forward limit of the conveyors 48. Since the sweepconveyors 150 and 152 are substantially identical, only the sweepconveyor 150 will be described in detail. The sweep conveyor 150comprises a horizontally disposed cylindrical-like housing 154 ofselected diameter, for example 8 inches, and longitudinallysubstantially equal to one-half the length of the conveyor housing 26and having a downwardly directed opening 156 (FIG. A hydraulic motor 158is coaxially connected to one end of the housing 154. The other endportion of the housing 154 is pivotally connected to a finger 160secured to and projecting laterally outward and forwardly of theconveyor housing 26 permitting the screw conveyor 150 to be horizontallypivoted about its connection with the finger 160 for positioning theconveyor 150 forwardly of the conveyor means when the apparatus is moveddown a roadway and is not being used in a sweeping action. The hydraulicmotor 158 is drivably connected coaxially with the shaft of a fiberbrush equipped screw conveyor 162 with the brush fibers 163 curved inthe direction of rotation. The other end of the conveyor 162 isjournalled by an end plate 164 at the opposite end of the housing 154.The hydraulic motor 158 is connected with the vehicle hydraulic systemby hydraulic tubing, neither of which are shown, and controlled by theoperator within the control cab 14. An elongated brace 166 is connectedat one end with the rearward end portion ofthe shaft 38 and isconnected, at its other end, in supporting relation with the hydraulicmotor 158.

To enhance the roadway sweeping function and clean the swept surfaces ofsand, dirt, and small objects not picked up by the brush equippedconveyors a vacuum pickup means is provided which also serves to collectand dispose of a substantial portion of dust generated during the brushsweeping action. The vacuum sweeping means comprises a blower 166 drivenby the vehicle engine or a hydraulic motor, not shown.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 5, the blower 166 has an inlet opening 168connected by tubing 170,172 and 174 with suction nozzles 176, 178 and180 disposed rearwardly of and supported by the conveyor housing 26 andsweep conveyors and 152, respectively. The suction nozzles 176, 178 andare relatively narrow when compared with their length having end andside walls 182 (FIG. 10) terminating downwardly in a horizontal planesubstantially defining the depending limit of the conveyor housing 26and sweep conveyor housings 154, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 6 and 10. Alength of flexible fabric material, such as canvas 184, or the like,coextensive with respect to the nozzle walls 182, respectively, issecured to the respective nozzle wall in depending relation and contactsthe surface of the earth or roadway 148. The outlet tube 186 of theblower is connected by an elongated tube 188 to a dirt and dust inletnipple or pipe 190 communicating with the top of the tank means 22laterally of the discharge tube means 24. When the blower or vacuumsweeper 166 is not being used the nozzles 176, 178 and 180 and theirconnecting tubing is usually removed together with the dust and dirtdischarge tube 188 and the dirt receiving pipe 190 is covered by a cap,not shown.

The tank 98 is provided with a flanged end vent pipe 191. A vent cap 192is secured to the upwardly disposed end of the vent pipe. A suitablefilter 194, having one or more screens 196, is removably supported bythe tank vent pipe by a flanged edge 198 overlying the upper flanged endof the vent pipe 191 downwardly of the cap 192.

OPERATION In operation the apparatus is moved forwardly by the engine 12driving the wheels 18 and rotating the conveyors 48, in the direction ofthe arrow (FIG. 6), by the drive means described hereinabove. The brushbristles on the dual flanges or blades of the screw conveyors 48 movedirt, dust and debris toward the central portion of the housing by theirrapid angular velocity wherein the impeller blades 50, communicatingwith the lower tubular portion 52, forces the material, in a throwingaction, upwardly through the tube means 24, into the tank. Beforestarting the cleaning action a desired quantity of the water 112 isplaced in the tank 62. The heater H is similarly in operationcirculating heated fluid by thermal action or the pump P through thepiping coils which heats the water to form a slurry of the materialreceived by the tank which action is enhanced by the agitator means 110.Further, since no chemicals are used in the tank stream pollution iseliminated. The level of water accumulating in the tank is preferablyvisually indicated, by a fluid level indicator, not shown, in thecontrol cab so that the operator may periodically drain the tank byopening the valve means 82.

The sweep conveyors 150 and 152 are connected with the conveyor means 20when conditions permit, to sweep a transverse area of substantialdimension. During such sweeping action, the sweep conveyors 150 and 152are in operation, and move dirt, or the like, toward the respective endportion of the conveyor means 20 where it is picked up by the brushequipped screw conveyors 48, as described hereinabove. During thesweeping action the blower 166 is preferably in operation to generate asuction or vacuum sweeping action through the nozzles 176, 178 and 180to pick up dust, dirt and the like not picked up by the brushes.

During the sweeping and vacuuming action, as described hereinabove, thefilter 194 prevents dust, and the like being exhausted to theatmosphere, thus, it may be seen that this apparatus does not pollutethe atmosphere Similarly the use of hydraulic motors for driving variouscomponents, as described hereinabove, reduces the noise of operation ofthe apparatus to a minimum thus reducing noise pollution.

When it is desired to move the apparatus along a highway, or the like,the braces 166 are disconnected from their supporting relation withrespect to the hydraulic motors 158 and the screw conveyors 150 and 152are pivoted about their connection with the finger 160 to behorizontally positioned forwardly of the conveyor means 20. Thehydraulic cylinders 42 are actuated to lift the conveyor means 20 andscrew conveyors 150 and 152 upwardly above the surface of the earth.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to exchanges or alterationswithout defeating its practicability, therefore, I do not wish to beconfined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and describedherein.

1 claim:

1. A roadway cleaning apparatus in combination with a prime movercomprising a vehicle chassis having an engine control means thereonincluding a control cab and having a hydraulic fluid pump, theimprovement comprising:

conveyor means transversely connected to the forward end of saidchassis,

said conveyor means including a substantially cylindrical housingdisposed horizontally adjacent the surface of the earth,

said housing having closed ends and having a coextensive downwardly andforwardly directed opening,

said housing having a rearward and upwardly directed discharge openingmedially its ends,

a pair of cooperating coaxially aligned screw conveyors extendingbetween and journalled by said housing ends, and impeller bladesinterposed between and connected, respectively, with adjacent ends ofsaid screw conveyors medially the ends of said housing, the length ofeach said impeller blade being equal with the radius of said screwconveyors,

said screw conveyors being characterized by a helical edge portion,arcuately curved toward the direction of rotation, and generating acylindrical surface coinciding with a circular plane generated by theoutwardly directed limit of said thrower blades as the conveyors arerotated about their axis,

said curved helical edge portions and said impeller blades having aseries of spaced-apart slots transversely formed therein adjacent theirouter edge;

a plurality of rush segments each having a rectangular base portion andbristles secured thereto;

means extending through the slots and securing said brush segments, inbase end to end abutting relation to the respective said screw conveyorand impeller blade outer edge portions;

drive means including a hydraulic motor for rotating said screwconveyors;

. a rectangular fluid containing closed tank having a material receivingopening in its top wall and having inner and outer spaced-apart wallshaving heat and cold insulation therebetween mounted on said vehiclechassis rearwardly of and projecting above the horizontal plane definingthe upper limit of said control cab;

a pair of shafts transversely journalled in coaxial aligned relation bythe forward end portion of said chassis;

a pair ofarms pivotally connected at one end portion, respectively, tothe respective outwardly disposed end portion of the respective saidshaft, the other end portion of said arms being pivotally connected,respectively, with opposing end portions of said housing;

a pair of braces projecting forwardly of said tank in laterally spacedrelation above said housing;

a pair of pressure operated cylinders extending between and connected,respectively, with the forward end portion of said braces and opposingend portions of said housing for vertical pivoting movement of saidhousing about the horizontal axis of said shafts;

a discharge tube connected, at one end, with said housing around itsdischarge opening and extending rearwardly and upward, at its other end,and connected with said tank top wall around the receiving opening;

a heater mounted on said chassis;

piping connected with said heater and extending, intermediate its endsinto said tank and being helically wound, adjacent the inner peripheryof said tank;

' a vacuum pump operatively mounted on said vehicle cluding:

a pair of earth surface engaging sweep screw conveyors respectivelyconnected at one end to the forward limit of the respective end portionof said housing in cooperating laterally extending horizontally alignedrelation;

a cylindrical jacket substantially surrounding said respective sweepscrew conveyor;

hydraulic motor means mounted on each said cylindrical jacket anddrivably connected with one end portion of the respective said sweepscrew conveyor;

brace means extending between and connected with said chassis and therespective hydraulic motor means on each said cylindrical jacket forhorizontally supporting the latter;

a second elongated downwardly open suction nozzle coextensive with andrearwardly secured horizontally to each said cylindrical jacket;

a second flexible skirt secured in depending relation further including:

to dependmg llmlt of each 531d Second nozzle; a vent pipe extending intosaid tank through the vent and o enm second flexible tubing connectingsaid vacuum pump g with said second Suction nozzles an air flow filterelement within said vent pipe; and 3. The apparatus according to claim 2in which said a Vent cover secured to Said Vent P p tank is providedwith a vent opening in its top wall and

1. A roadway cleaning apparatus in combination with a prime movercomprising a vehicle chassis having an engine control means thereonincluding a control cab and having a hydraulic fluid pump, theimprovement comprising: conveyor means transversely connected to theforward end of said chassis, said conveyor means including asubstantially cylindrical housing disposed horizontally adjacent thesurface of the earth, said housing having closed ends and having acoextensive downwardly and forwardly directed opening, said housinghaving a rearward and upwardly directed discharge opening medially itsends, a pair of cooperating coaxially aligned screw conveyors extendingbetween and journalled by said housing ends, and impeller bladesinterpOsed between and connected, respectively, with adjacent ends ofsaid screw conveyors medially the ends of said housing, the length ofeach said impeller blade being equal with the radius of said screwconveyors, said screw conveyors being characterized by a helical edgeportion, arcuately curved toward the direction of rotation, andgenerating a cylindrical surface coinciding with a circular planegenerated by the outwardly directed limit of said thrower blades as theconveyors are rotated about their axis, said curved helical edgeportions and said impeller blades having a series of spaced-apart slotstransversely formed therein adjacent their outer edge; a plurality ofrush segments each having a rectangular base portion and bristlessecured thereto; means extending through the slots and securing saidbrush segments, in base end to end abutting relation to the respectivesaid screw conveyor and impeller blade outer edge portions; drive meansincluding a hydraulic motor for rotating said screw conveyors; arectangular fluid containing closed tank having a material receivingopening in its top wall and having inner and outer spaced-apart wallshaving heat and cold insulation therebetween mounted on said vehiclechassis rearwardly of and projecting above the horizontal plane definingthe upper limit of said control cab; a pair of shafts transverselyjournalled in coaxial aligned relation by the forward end portion ofsaid chassis; a pair of arms pivotally connected at one end portion,respectively, to the respective outwardly disposed end portion of therespective said shaft, the other end portion of said arms beingpivotally connected, respectively, with opposing end portions of saidhousing; a pair of braces projecting forwardly of said tank in laterallyspaced relation above said housing; a pair of pressure operatedcylinders extending between and connected, respectively, with theforward end portion of said braces and opposing end portions of saidhousing for vertical pivoting movement of said housing about thehorizontal axis of said shafts; a discharge tube connected, at one end,with said housing around its discharge opening and extending rearwardlyand upward, at its other end, and connected with said tank top wallaround the receiving opening; a heater mounted on said chassis; pipingconnected with said heater and extending, intermediate its ends intosaid tank and being helically wound, adjacent the inner periphery ofsaid tank; a vacuum pump operatively mounted on said vehicle chassis; afirst elongated downwardly open suction nozzle coextensive with andrearwardly secured horizontally to said housing; a first flexible skirtsecured in depending relation to the depending limit of said nozzle;and, a first flexible tubing connecting said vacuum pump with saidsuction nozzle and said tank, respectively.
 2. The apparatus accordingto claim 1 and further including: a pair of earth surface engaging sweepscrew conveyors respectively connected at one end to the forward limitof the respective end portion of said housing in cooperating laterallyextending horizontally aligned relation; a cylindrical jacketsubstantially surrounding said respective sweep screw conveyor;hydraulic motor means mounted on each said cylindrical jacket anddrivably connected with one end portion of the respective said sweepscrew conveyor; brace means extending between and connected with saidchassis and the respective hydraulic motor means on each saidcylindrical jacket for horizontally supporting the latter; a secondelongated downwardly open suction nozzle coextensive with and rearwardlysecured horizontally to each said cylindrical jacket; a second flexibleskirt secured in depending relation to the depending limit of each saidsecond nozzle; and second flexible tubing connecting said vacuum pumpwith said second suction nozzles.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2in which said tank is provided with a vent opening in its top wall andfurther including: a vent pipe extending into said tank through the ventopening; an air flow filter element within said vent pipe; and a ventcover secured to said vent pipe.